End of Year and Holiday Giving – Keep Believe Big in Mind!

We are so grateful for the generous support of our donors and monthly partners. Without you, we would not be able to help patients and their families with the resources they need, fund the Mistletoe Clinical Trial, provide wellness grants, or encourage patients through Believe Mug distributions.
As the end of the year approaches, would you keep Believe Big in mind?  We are in need of $150,000 to meet our budget and fully fund the mistletoe clinical trial that is due to begin in the next couple of weeks!  Would you also prayerfully consider becoming one of our monthly partners?  Monthly partners ($30, $50, $100) enable us to budget effectively.
We will be mailing out an End of Year letter that will include a donation envelope or you can offer your financial support today by clicking the donate button below. All donations are tax-deductible and greatly appreciated!

 or text OVERCOME to 91999

.
Thank you! You are truly making a difference in the lives of others!
believe-big-DC-mistletoe_36
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Integrative Medicine Meeting in Germany

In September we had the opportunity to travel to Stuttgart, Germany to attend the Integrated Medicine Meeting. The Integrated Medicine Meeting was a gathering of over 250 professionals hosted at the headquarters of Helixor, a producer of Mistletoe. Our team met with experts in the fields of integrated medicine from all over the world to learn of new research and case studies in oncology. We toured the Helixor mistletoe extract production facility and learned how the plant is harvested, stored, and how the extract obtained from the plant. Our team toured the Helixor arboretum and learned about each specific species of mistletoe and the growth and maturation process. We also participated in a poster session and presented on the upcoming Mistletoe Clinical Trial at the Johns Hopkins Hospital.

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Thank You Friends!!

Dear Friends,

Thank you for coming to our first Cook & Kiss Cancer Goodbye Fundraiser!  Because of you, we raised $20,000 and nearly met our goal of $25,000!  We are so very grateful for your support!  We work with patients each day that depend on the financial assistance we offer and the support of our patient advocates and staff.

The night of the cooking class we received this email and wanted to share it with you.

“From the bottom of our hearts, my husband and I would like to thank you for your graciousness and guidance toward the Namaste Health Center. As I wind down my last week here (and although very tired but satisfied and grateful) I realize how very different my life would be had I not found Believe Big and this path. God is so good and I’ve learned a lot about healing in many areas. Thank you so much for the grant you have given us. Your work is blessed and we will continue to pray for Believe Big’s endeavors moving forward.”

As Jimmy shared, generous donors like you enable Believe Big to do BIG things!  Currently, we are very low on wellness grant funds and we are $68,000 away from fully funding the mistletoe clinical trial with the Johns Hopkins Hospital that is due to begin THIS December!  Both of these are critical needs for us to continue to provide hope, help, and healing to patients and their families.

We are standing at a ground breaking moment in the medical world and it’s exciting to see this all beginning in Baltimore.  As we approach the end of the year and the holiday season, please keep Believe Big in mind for your end of year giving!

Believing Big!
Ivelisse

PS- If you would like to view all photos from the evening please check out our photo album HERE.

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SNEAK PEAK at what we’ll make! Join us at the Cook & Kiss Cancer Goodbye fundraiser dinner.

COok & Kiss Cancer Goodbye
Here is a sneak peak at recipes that you will get to try: Seared Halibut with a Fuji Apple and Watermelon Relish, Saffron Risotto mini tower with a delicious lime zest glaze, boneless Jerk Chicken thighs topped with crispy plantains, and more!  Yum!
You will have an incredible evening learning from one of the top chefs in the country AND allproceeds from the event will give patients and their families access to life-saving treatments and free resources. It’s a win-win!
Reserve Your Seat Today!
September 29, 2016
  6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
The Home of Frank & Gayle Kelly
Lutherville, MD
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Cook & Kiss Cancer Goodbye – Dinner Fundraiser

Believe Big Invites You to Join Us for a Hands-on Private Cooking Class Fundraiser

Chef John Walsh will guide you in preparing four delicious recipes using the best organic ingredients. You will learn that eating healthy doesn’t have to be boring and it is easy to do! Enjoy a fun evening out while helping patients face, fight and overcome cancer. All guests will receive personal instruction, a recipe booklet of what was prepared and an exclusive Believe Big apron.

Seating is limited, reserve your seat today.

  • September 29, 2016
    The Home of Frank & Gayle Kelly
    Lutherville, MD

Time: 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Cost: $250 / Ticket

Two ways to rgister:

1. Visit www.BelieveBig.org/Cook
2. Contact Jill Merriman at jill@believebig.org or 888-317-5850

Register early as each class is limited to 60 guests

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The Well is Running Dry! Can You Pay It Forward? Grants Needed to Support Cancer Patients!

I know it’s not Thanksgiving, Christmas or even the end of the year, but friends
WE NEED YOUR HELP TODAY!
We are working hard to begin the Mistletoe Clinical Trial so that this therapy can be offered as standard of care in Oncology and can be covered by insurance. Until that occurs, there are patients today who need our help to make this care accessible. In most cases Mistletoe therapy is completely out of pocket and because we know the strain that patients are facing financially, we offer Wellness Grants so those in need can use this highly effective treatment. Patients are able to afford this care because you have helped to make it possible!
The need for Wellness Grants has increased by 300%!  We are honored to help so many patients in need but we have hit a critical point where we are almost out of grant funds and it’s only the end of August!  We are one of the few organizations that give financial assistance to cancer patients and we don’t want to say “no” to any patient that needs our help.
I am asking you today to please help us with a gift of any amount. Let us pay it forward and ease the financial burden of a patient and their family. To support Believe Big and all of the patients in need of Mistletoe therapy please click below to donate:
 or text OVERCOME to 91999.
We are so appreciative of the generosity of our donors. Without your help and support we would be unable to help patients and their families face, fight and overcome cancer. You are truly making a difference in the lives of others!
Thank you!
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Frozen Nutty Banana Nibblers – Healthy, kid-friendly “dessert”

These frozen nibblers are a great sweet treat for both adults and kids, and they’re super easy to make! This is a great recipe to use up bananas that are just about to be over-ripe.
Ingredients: 
Several ripe bananas
Organic, all natural creamy peanut butter or alternate nut-butter of your choice
Directions:
1) Slice the bananas into 1/2 inch pieces
2) Smear nut-butter onto one slice of banana and top with another banana piece to make a little sandwich
3) Freeze for at least an hour and enjoy!
Recipe adapted from PopSugar Healthy Recipes
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Are Toxic Chemicals Hiding in Your Products? Check yours today!

Did you know that there are over 80,000 chemicals used today?  Did you know that with 13,000 chemicals used in cosmetics, that only 10% have been evaluated for safety? The FDA does not regulate the cosmetic industry and allows certain amount of toxins in items.  Our bodies were made to detox from chemicals, but with the overload of chemicals our bodies are being overloaded.
We absorb 60% of what we put on our skin!  Children absorb 40-50% more than adults!
There is an organization called the Environmental Working Group (www.ewg.orgthat has tested hundreds of thousands of products and will give you a listing of it’s toxic levels. Try and enter the products you are currently using to discover how “safe” they really are. You may be surprised.
This is important for anyone who is wanting to prevent cancer and even more so for someone who is battling cancer. Your body is working hard to heal and relieving the toxic load is important.
Click HERE for some of our favorites!
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Volunteer and Intern Spotlight – August

 Interested in working with Believe Big? 
Our two volunteers, Taylor (left) and John (right) helped at the Believe Big Mug Painting in the Johns Hopkins Pediatric Oncology Unit and at Nativity Church. Taylor and John are both students are Gerstell Academy. Taylor also helped in the office with donation calls, Believe Mugs, and advertising. Thank you to both Taylor and John for their help this summer! We wish them the best of luck as they head back to school this fall!
Interested in joining Believe Big as an intern or a volunteer?
We have many opportunities to become involved with Believe Big!
Our most recent needs are for individuals who can help us expand our Believe Mug paintings in the community and writing to patients and their families. 
 
If you would like to get more involved by volunteering, If you have a service requirement, or are interested in an un-paid internship position please contact Meredith@BelieveBig.org or 888-317-5850. A volunteer form can be found here.
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Shari Overcame Stage IV Breast Cancer!

Shari Hall Smith was diagnosed with stage IV breast cancer in 2014 at the age of 58, twenty-two years after her initial breast cancer diagnosis. She combined conventional and alternative methods to overcome incredible odds. Two years later she has no evidence of disease.
Here is her story in her own words:
“In 1992 I was 36 years old recently engaged to be married when I learned I had breast cancer. I refused conventional treatment and decided to instead build my immune system with supplements, Essiac Tea and positive imagery. By refusing the six months of chemotherapy and five years of Tamoxifen, my prognosis only changed by 5%. Greg, my husband, and I were blessed to have our two daughters, Sydney and Emma.
In February 2014 I learned that the cancer I had 22 years before was in my bones. I received three opinions with the same recommendation of Letrozole, Xgeva, and radiation with no cure. This is where I made the decision to research for a different answer. While I did not find a cure, I did learn about treatments that could boost my immune system. I found an amazing Integrative MD who ordered unusual lab tests and along with my other test results devised a diet and supplement plan to build my immune system, negate bone loss from the Letrozole and help to mitigate my pain. I decided against Xgeva and the radiation to see if the natural treatments may help me without the harsh side effects. I hired a cancer consultant and decided to travel to Germany for whole body hyperthermia, along with other immune building treatments. At the end of my three week treatments I was sent home with Mistletoe therapy and started immediately. I continue to take this as prescribed by my doctor in Germany.
While in Germany I met well research people from around the world and learned from them, including about a book that had recently come out: Radical Remission by Dr. Kelly Turner. After reading it on my trip home to the states I realized I was doing many of the factors outlined in the book that people from around the world were doing with late stage cancer to heal themselves against all odds. It gave me additional insight that I added into my treatment plan which includes diet, supplements, Mistletoe injections, a daily biota, and monthly energy healing. In July 2015, I stopped taking the only cancer medication I was on, Letrozole. While I have been blessed to have no evidence of disease for two years, I have also healed the auto-immune issues that plagued me for over thirty years! Since 2015 I have only been taking Mistletoe and other immune boosting treatments and I am still no evidence of disease (NED)! I have never felt better in body, mind, and spirit. I encourage everyone to seek treatment options that meet their individual health and life goals~ Be well!”
For more information about Shari and her treatments, you can visit her website www.thriverz.org.
Believe Big believes that there are many aspects to healing.  Each person needs an individualized diet and treatment plan for their type of cancer, stage, and sensitivities. Our vision at Believe Big is to see patients and their families discover their pathway to healing. If you or someone you love is in need of help, please have them contact us at 888-317-5850 or visit www.believebig.org.  Believing Big with you!
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